Opsoclonus-myoclonus Syndrome with Neuroblastoma in Children and their Anaesthetic Management

Abstract

Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome (OMS) or the dancing eye syndrome, is a rare inflammatory neurological disorder often with paraneoplastic aetiology. It has an incidence of 1 in 1000,000 population worldwide. Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome is associated with 2-3% of patients having neuroblastoma. The authors present 5 cases of OMS in children who had neuroblastoma and underwent surgical resection. The median age was 26 (14-36) months. Male: female ratio was 1:1.5. All the patients had moderate to severe symptoms. Duration of symptoms at presentation varied from 3 days to one and half years. The possibility of OMS should be considered in all children presenting with probable neurological symptoms. Pharmacological therapy combined with surgery results in a good outcome. Balanced anaesthesia with the most commonly used drugs can be safely administered in the patients with opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome.